“Officer [Marc] DiFava bravely jumped into action and saved the chicken from certain peril,” police said on their website, which featured a photo of a Somerville police officer smiling and holding what appears to be the ­rescued chicken.

It is not clear how or why the chicken was stuck in the snowbank, nor what was done with the chicken after the rescue.

“I would say this is not a common event in our city,” said Upton. “We rescue dogs and cats. but I think this might be the first chicken we’ve ever seen.”

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